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Saturday, October 9, 2010

Project Pan: Start & Product Update!

That's right: I'm embarking on a Project Pan! This probably isn't news for most of you reading this, as I have already posted a video on my YouTube beauty channel about it (I'll embed the video at the bottom of this post).

If you aren't familiar with what a Project Pan is, it's when you go on a makeup buying strike until you've either hit pan or used up a certain number of products. While the most common number is a Project 10 Pan, I originally started mine out as a 20 pan because I wanted to include hair, skin, and nail products as well. However, after starting this on August 13th, I've used up 9 items, 8 of which AREN'T makeup. I feel like that's kind of cheating, because I went into this mostly to use up makeup. So I'm considering making this a 30 pan so I can use up a good chunk of makeup too.

Everyone always has different rules for their Project Pans, so here are a few of mine, just to clarify:
1.) To add a product to my finished "Pan" list, I have to use up the entire thing, not just hit pan. I have to be removing it from my collection, since the whole point of this is to be downsizing.
2.) Building from rule one, I have to be removing the product from my collection and not replacing it. Now for some products, I will have to replace them. For example, I only keep one or two mascaras at a time, and I toss them out after every three months. There's no way I'm going to be done with this in three, or even six, months, so when I run out of mascara I'm going to buy another one. It just can't count toward my "30" products used up.
3.) I may slip up if I find something limited edition, one of a kind, and a product that I know I will regret passing up. I will probably just keep it in the box until I'm done with this project. Then it will be like a little reward for finishing!
4.) Special occasion things like false lashes don't count. I'm going to need to purchase some for Halloween purposes!

Now on the video I posted talking about this project, I got a ton of requests to talk about what products I've already used up. Unfortunately, I've already tossed the majority of them, so I did some Google Image searching so I can tell you about them here for those of you who are interested!

1.) MAC Lingering Brow Pencil: I really love this pencil (this is the second one I've used up), and I never intended on counting it toward my Project Pan because I thought I would need to repurchase it. However, I decided to get resourceful, and have now been using the Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette to fill in my brows instead.

2.) Kenra 25 Volume Hairspray: This is my all time favorite hairspray, and I was really sad to finish it and add it to my pan list. I have about 8 untouched bottles of hairspray from other brands, and I know I need to use them up, even though none of them compare to my dear friend Kenra. I highly, highly recommend this spray. It is a bestseller in the salon I work at, and should be sold in most beauty supply stores (not drugstores).

3.) Cetaphil Gentle Daily Cleanser: This was recommended to me by a bunch of my fellow YouTubers when I said I needed a new face wash. I think I might try the regular cleanser by Cetaphil next... I felt like this one was a little too gentle on my skin.

4.) L'Oreal Professional Color Vitamino Shampoo: This (along with the conditioner) was given to me as a birthday present this year, and I was quite impressed with it. It wasn't drying, and always made my hair/scalp feel nice and clean. This product is only sold in high end salons because it is L'Oreal's professional line.

5.) L'Oreal Professional Color Vitamino Conditioner: I wasn't quite as happy with this product as I was the shampoo. I have pretty long hair, which means I need a really thick conditioner to keep my ends from drying out. I felt like the consistency of this conditioner was kind of thin. I think it would be better for people with shorter hair.

6.) Moroccan Oil Treatment: Yes. I Project Panned my Moroccan Oil. This was a REALLY tough decision, because every fiber in my being wanted to race back out and replace it, but I knew I shouldn't. Ever since Moroccan Oil came into my life, all of my other leave-in conditioners have been shoved in the back of my bathroom storage and neglected. I know I need to use them up, so my hair is going to suffer for a little while. This will be the very first thing I repurchase when this Project Pan is over.

7.) Sebastian Penetraitt Deep Conditioning Hair Mask: This product was very so-so in my opinion. It worked well, but I didn't feel like it had any qualities that distinguished it from the average salon-brand hair mask. It was moisturizing and made my hair soft, but after trying the Moroccan Oil Reparative Hair Mask, I will not be purchasing the Sebastian Penetraitt again.

8.) Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Exfoliating Scrub: I was very impressed with this product. It seemed to work really well and always left my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. It has this cooling, minty sensation, which was nice for hot days or when I just got back from the gym. I would like to repurchase this.

9.) Safeway Makeup Removing Wipes: I already tossed the package of these, and Google didn't have any images, but just imagine the classic plastic-bag style wipes. They were crap and I thoroughly hated them each and every time I used them, but I was determined not to let them go to waste. Thank God they are gone. I think I'm going to go back to the Clean & Clear ones once this Project Pan is over... those were way better.

That's the update for now! Are you doing a Project Pan? If so, how's it going for you?
xx, Allison

12 comments:

hi im also doing project pan but purely cosmetics -- 10 products. im so bothered (lol) when i realized i got so much stuff, and some are not even touched. please visit my blog and follow if you like. have a great day.

I started with a project 15 pan, not just makeup, beauty in general. Until last week it went pretty well, then the Venomou Villains collection came out here and I had to restrain myself :)I try to stay away from stores, that works best for me!

I'm probably in constant "pan-mode". I only have what I use at the moment and so I hit pan on things and then go repurchase often. I currently have hit pan on my Maybelline Mineral Power pressed powder that I use to set my foundation with. I'm interested in trying that facial scrub though!

you made me start my own project pan :) i'm starting with 5 products but i guess i will make it 10 products if everything goes well. i really have to get use out of what i already have, so it's good that you made me start this project ;D